Market Wrap: Bitcoin Pushes to $11,450, DeFi Value Locked Now at $4B

The crypto market continues its bullish run and investors are plowing crypto into DeFi.

Bitcoin’s Option Market Is Now Skewed Bullish

Bitcoin’s price jumped to fresh 11-month highs on Friday with the options market betting on a sustained bull move.

Suspected Twitter Hacker Arrested In Florida

A Florida teenager suspected of spearheading the massive Twitter hack and subsequent high-profile bitcoin scam is in custody.

What a Professional Trader Thinks of the Fed, Robinhood and Real Estate, Feat. Tony Greer

The editor of the Morning Navigator newsletter discusses a variety of macro topics and how to trade against a very strange market.

Money Reimagined: Let’s Be Privacy Scolds

Technical solutions to protect financial privacy may not suffice. Stronger cultural norms around minding one’s own business are needed as well.

Blockchain Bites: Dollar’s Decline, Ether’s Moneymakers and Coinbase’s Considerations

Coinbase is considering adding 19 new assets, the SEC tapped CipherTrace for its Binance-specific tracing tools and 132% of Ether wallets are in profit.

Bitcoin News Roundup for July 31, 2020

With the dollar dropping to its lowest level since May 2018 and a reshuffle in Japan's central bank, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back.

FinCEN Warns on Coronavirus Scams Demanding Crypto

FinCEN is warning cybercriminals are exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic, and asks firms to be especially vigilant regarding their dealings with virtual currencies.

Putin Signs Russian Crypto Bill Into Law

Russia's president signed the first of two bills on digital assets into law on Friday.

Ripple Paid MoneyGram $15.1M in ‘Market Development Fees’ in Q2

With the $15.1 million in Q2, MoneyGram has so far received $43 million for providing liquidity for Ripple’s XRP-based settlement system.

Coinbase Considering 19 Additional Cryptos for Exchange Listing

The popular trading platform has once again expanded its list of crypto contenders.

Ethereum 2.0: Closer Than Ever, Still Plenty of Work to Do

Five years later, Ethereum is still chugging along as a decentralized platform for self-executing code. Eth 2.0 is quite close, but for real this time.

CoinDesk Live Recap: Co-Founders Revisit Ethereum’s Launch Drama

Ethereum was always a wild experiment. Now, five years later, a few early believers explain why they are more bullish than ever.

First Mover: Chainlink’s Soaring Token Shows Lucrative ‘Oracle’ Role in Fast-Growing DeFi

Chainlink's LINK token soared almost 60% in July as cryptocurrency traders fawned over DeFi projects and their rapid growth.

Bank of Japan Puts Top Economist in Charge of Digital Yen Initiative

The central bank's most senior economist now runs the department responsible for the digital currency task force and working group with other central banks.

Bitcoin on Track for Highest July Price Gain in 8 Years

Bitcoin appears on track to register its best July price performance for eight years and confirm a major bullish breakout in the process.

Elrond Launches Onto Mainnet, Reduces Token Supply by 99%

Elrond’s move onto mainnet will replace 19.98 billion testnet tokens with 20 million mainnet tokens at a rate of 1000:1.

KeeperDAO Raises Seven-Figure Seed Investment From Polychain, Three Arrows

The funding comes at a time when DeFi has seen an explosion in growth.

Ripple Says XRP Lawsuit Based on ‘Unsupported Leaps of Logic’

Ripple has hit back at the lead plaintiff in an ongoing class-action lawsuit accusing the firm and its CEO of securities fraud.

Twitter Says ‘Phone Spear Phishing’ Let Hackers Gain Employee Credentials

Twitter has provided an update on what happened the day the social media giant lost control over its platform.

Ethereum History in 5 Charts

Five years ago this week, the first general-purpose blockchain went live on mainnet. Here are five charts for understanding Ethereum's evolution.

Audius Rallies EDM Artists, Crypto VCs to Back Vision for Music Payments on Ethereum

Audius, a streaming service built on Ethereum, has raised $3.1 million from Multicoin Capital, Blockchange Ventures, Pantera Capital and Coinbase Ventures.

Blockchain Bites: Plus Token Ponzi Popped, Cardano Forked and tZERO Cut

Cardano is now running as a proof-of-stake network, the Marines banned crypto mining and crypto reacts to the congressional inquiry into Big Tech's market dominance.

Suspects Detained in Ukraine for Bomb Threats Demanding Bitcoin

Ukraine's security service detained two suspected terrorists who threatened to blow up buildings if they didn't receive bitcoin.

CoinList Launches ‘Pro’ Exchange for Token Sale Buyers

The new CoinList Pro exchange aims to help institutional traders participate in the platform's dozen or so token sales in 2020.

Bitcoin News Roundup for July 30, 2020

With the price of bitcoin hovering near recent highs and some wondering whether we're poised for a pullback, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back for your latest news roundup.

Dharma Adds Uniswap Trading in Bid to Become ‘the Robinhood of DeFi’

Dharma, the Coinbase-backed decentralize finance startup, is adding token-exchange protocol Uniswap as its latest in-app offering.

Ether Addresses in Profit Have Soared 132% in a Year

Even with ether close to yearly highs, profitable addresses have more than doubled since last July.

SEC Wants to Start Scrutinizing Binance Chain Transactions

Company executives anticipated that regulators might one day take an interest in Binance Chain

Central Banks Are Privacy Providers of Last Resort

If central banks issue digital currencies, they'll be thrown into a debate about financial privacy in the modern era. Is that what they want?

Bank of England Building Payments Network to Support a Potential Digital Pound

CoinDesk has learned the Bank of England's new settlement system is being built so it can be forwards compatible with a digital currency.

Coda Protocol Touts User Growth One Year Into Testnet

The O(1) Labs project thinks recursive zk-SNARKs are the key to more manageable blockchains.

China Aims to Be the World’s Dominant Blockchain Power – With Help From Google, Amazon and Microsoft

China's BSN could be met with geopolitical resistance as it continues to extend its global reach.

Paxful Chips Away at LocalBitcoins’ Russian P2P Market Dominance

Paxful’s year-old foray into Russian crypto markets is paying off for the peer-to-peer exchange.

Circle Gets $25M From DCG to Drive USDC Mainstream

USDC backer Circle is teaming with Genesis Trading in a $25 million deal aimed at pushing the stablecoin to the fintech masses.

First Mover: Sleepy Fed Meeting Belies Tense Economic Reality (Brrr) That May Buoy Bitcoin

It didn't really matter to bitcoin traders that the Federal Reserve's meeting this week was so anticlimactic. The real action is ongoing – in the form of more money injections.

Dapp Data Storage Provider Bluzelle to Begin Mainnet Launch in August

Distributed data storage network Bluzelle is starting the launch of its mainnet on Aug. 8, the company announced Thursday.

tZERO Slashes Jobs, Salaries as It Gears Up for Another Funding Round

In an attempt to improve its cash burn rate, tZERO has slashed its headcount and asked senior staff to take equity as it prepares for a new raise.

Police Arrest 27 Alleged Masterminds Behind $5.7B Plus Token Crypto Scam

Chinese police have arrested 27 leaders and 82 others suspected of operating the Ponzi scheme.

Malaysia’s Stock Exchange Eyes Blockchain for Bond Market Digitization

Known as Project Harbour, the initiative will use distributed ledger technology as a register for a bond marketplace.

Cardano Introduces Proof-of-Stake With ‘Shelley’ Hard Fork

It's alive! Cardano has successfully hard forked to its major upgrade, Shelley, which introduced proof-of-stake to the network

CoinDesk Live Recap: Ethereum’s DeFi Luminaries Discuss What’s Next

MakerDAO's Rune Christensen, Compound's Robert Leshner and Uniswap's Hayden Adams discussed the state of the $3.8 billion DeFi market.

CoinDesk Live Recap: The DAO Hack Is Still a Mystery

The DAO attack was a foundational episode in Ethereum history. On Tuesday, CoinDesk Live gathered a handful of blockchain veterans to look back.

A Crypto Derivatives Exchange Is Getting a Nasdaq Listing in Q3

Originally postponed due to the pandemic, EQUOS.io is still set to be the first crypto exchange on the Nasdaq.

Recent Bitcoin Rally Pushes ‘Addresses in Profit’ to 93%

August 2019 was the last time this many bitcoin addresses were in profit.

Bitcoin Scaling Tech Could Have Saved Companies and Users $500M in Fees: Report

Implementing transaction batching and SegWit could have saved bitcoin companies and users $500 million in fees – if they'd just use the technology.

How DeFi Could Disrupt Traditional Finance, Feat. Sergey Nazarov

"Imagine a world without counterparty risk..." - Chainlink's co-founder Sergey Nazarov shares why the move from brand-based contracts to math-based contracts is inevitable.

Federal Reserve Keeps Rates Close to Zero, Continues Buying Treasurys

The Federal Reserve said Wednesday it would hold benchmark U.S. interest rates close to zero and continue buying Treasury bonds to support the coronavirus-devastated economy.

Coinbase Now Offers 2% Rewards on Dai Stablecoin Accounts

The program applies to customers residing in the U.S., U.K., The Netherlands, Spain, France and Australia.

Indian Users Almost 5 Times More Likely to Encounter Crypto Hacking: Microsoft Report

A Microsoft cybersecurity report found that in Asia-Pacific, Sri Lanka has the highest rate of encounter with such attacks, with neighboring India in second place.

Blockchain Bites: Ledger’s Breach, Celsius’ Contradictions and DeFi’s Next Frontier

Liquidity mining is coming to PoS blockchains, Ledger was breached and why bitcoin's rally has legs.

DeFi Lender Aave Rolls Out Governance Token on Path to Decentralization

Aave will transfer ownership of the protocol to a “genesis governance” built and approved by LEND token holders. It will also swap LEND tokens for AAVE.

Bitcoin News Roundup for July 29, 2020

With the battle for CBDC dominance in the East heating up and smart contract use skyrocketing as Ethereum turns five, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back with another news roundup.

Marine Corps Bans Crypto Mining Apps From Government-Issued Mobile Devices

The Tuesday memo does not give a specific reason for the bitcoin mining ban but broadly cited security concerns.

Binance Australia Is Actually Run by the Founders of TravelbyBit

CoinDesk has discovered Binance Australia is operated by InvestbyBit, a company that shares directors with tourist crypto payments provider, TravelbyBit.

Marathon Boosting Bitcoin Mining Game With 1,360 More Rigs Arriving in August

The publicly-traded firm has bought hundreds of rigs from mining hardware rivals MicroBT and Bitmain.

Why Bitcoin Is Protected by the First Amendment

Bitcoin's role as a communications and associative network - not just a financial network - means it deserves constitutional protection.

Carbon Credits Have a Double-Spend Problem. This Microsoft-Backed Project Is Trying to Fix That

The Microsoft-backed IWA sustainability group is building a tokenization standard that aims to bring transparency to carbon accounting.

Bitcoin Looks Overbought but Analysts Play Down Drop Fears

Bitcoin's rally looks overstretched, according to a technical indicator, but short-term price consolidation looks more likely than a drop, say analysts.

First Mover: Crypto Traders ‘Greedy’ as Goldman Warns on Dollar

As the dollar faces a diluted world status, cryptocurrencies like ether and bitcoin are soaring, with a popular sentiment index now registering "greed."

Digital Yen Now ‘Top Priority’ for Japan Central Bank, Says Senior Official

The comments mark a shift in priority for Japan as it seeks to counter the economic threat from regional rival China.

Why DeFi on Ethereum Is Like Algorithmic Trading in the ‘90s

DeFi's surge has created an interesting dynamic: Traditional fund managers are beginning to experiment with what decentralization has to offer.

How the EEA Made Ethereum Palatable to Big Business

Formed in 2017, the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance (EEA) helped large corporates and tech providers experiment with blockchain.

Crypto Wallet Maker Ledger Loses 1M Email Addresses in Data Theft

An unknown hacker gained access to the wallet maker's marketing database, stealing a million email addresses as well as personal information for 9,000 customers.

Pantera Capital Leads $2.6M Seed Round for DEX Protocol Injective

The protocol, incubated by Binance Labs, sets out to solve some of the issues facing users of decentralized exchanges.

605 Days Later: How ArCoins Got the SEC Go-Ahead as an Ethereum-Traded Treasuries Fund

A look inside Arca and TokenSoft’s 605-day crusade to register the first Ethereum blockchain-native ‘40 Act Fund.

Australian Crypto Exchanges Partner With Koinly to Simplify Tax Reporting for Users

With tax reports for crypto transactions being complex and time-consuming to prepare, Koinly said its service automates the process in just minutes.

MIT Lightning Creator Unveils First ‘Demonstration’ of Bitcoin Scaling Tech

Utreexo "can make Bitcoin nodes smaller and faster while keeping the same security and privacy as full nodes," says developer Tadge Dryja.

CFTC Chair: ‘A Large Part’ of Financial System Could End Up in Blockchain Format

Perfection shouldn’t be the enemy of good when it comes to regulating the cryptocurrency space, said Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Heath Tarbert.

Blockchain Bites: Bitcoin’s New ETP, Ethereum’s ‘Woodstock Moment’ and Silvergate’s SEN Zen

Bitcoin is tracing gold to yearly highs, a crypto hedge fund folded and a Swiss firm launched bitcoin's first actively managed ETP.

Bitcoin News Roundup for July 28, 2020

With bitcoin pulling back a little after yesterday's frenzied rush above $11,000, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back with another news roundup.

EU Outlines Tech Specs for Nodes in Its Blockchain Services Testnet

Participating member states can stage their testnet nodes on hardware with specs roughly equivalent to a PC gamer’s tower.

Is Bitcoin Mining Legal in India? Miners Still Don’t Know

Following a recent Supreme Court decision, India's crypto industry is optimistic about the future. But miners still don't know if what they do is illegal.

Digital Intelligence Firm Cellebrite Launches Crypto Tracing Tool Powered by CipherTrace

Israel-based digital forensics firm Cellebrite announced the launch of its cryptocurrency and blockchain tracing tool on Tuesday.

Expectations for Even Further Bitcoin Gains Keep Lid on Futures Contracts Liquidations

Only $133 million in futures were liquidated on BitMEX as bitcoin soared above $11,400.

Deribit Reports Daily Record $539M of Bitcoin Options Traded, More Than Double Prior High

Exchange Deribit has more than doubled on its previous daily record with well over $500 million worth of bitcoin options traded.

Why Bitcoin-Like Scarcity Would Be a Disaster for the Dollar

Calls to restrict the Fed's money printing powers fail to recognize the likely consequences, including price instability.

Swiss Exchange Lists World’s First Active Bitcoin ETP

FiCAS has listed the world's first actively managed bitcoin ETP on Switzerland's SIX exchange.

Fireblocks Claims Exchange Program Enables Zero-Confirmation Crypto Deposits

Fireblocks says its new system provides crypto deposits on exchanges with zero confirmations and in real-time.

Bitcoin Futures Volume Surges 186% as Price Hits $11K

The market for Bitcoin futures snapped back into life on Monday as the cryptocurrency's price surged up to an 11-month high.

First Mover: The Dollar Drop May Have Helped Push Bitcoin Past $11K

As the U.S. dollar’s value slides, prices are suddenly rising for just about everything priced in dollars.  That includes bitcoin, which shot up some 13% on Monday for its biggest gain in almost three months. Prices soared past levels reached in February, prior to the pandemic-induced sell-off, reaching a new 2020 high of $11,180. You’re reading First […]

One Billion, Two Billion, Three Billion, Four? DeFi’s Knocking on TradFi’s Door

DeFi is an overnight success years in the making. From "The DAO" hack to $3.6 billion in total value locked, here's the history of decentralized finance.

Memories of London’s Devcon 1, Ethereum’s ‘Woodstock’ Moment

Ethereum’s Devcon 1, held in London in November 2015, featured adventuresome bankers and Big 4 consultants mingling with dreadlocked coders.

Australian State Treasury Proposes ‘Flexible’ Regulatory Reform for Blockchain

The New South Wales Treasury is exploring regulatory reform for blockchain technology citing the need to promote innovation.

Israel’s Stock Exchange Launches Blockchain Platform for Securities Lending

The new blockchain platform can facilitate peer-to-peer trading and allow the securities lending market to reach its full potential, the exchange said.

Staking on Ethereum 2.0 Takes First Step With Test System for Validators

The transition to Ethereum 2.0 and its proof-of-stake consensus model is finally underway.

Firm Uses Ethereum to Tokenize Sustainable Infrastructure in Fight Against Climate Change

UK-based fintech company Fasset aims to bridge the $15 trillion gap in sustainable infrastructure development with blockchain-backed investments.

P2P Exchange LocalBitcoins Adds Crypto Surveillance Tools From Elliptic

Elliptic's tracing software bolsters the peer-to-peer exchange's anti-money laundering safeguards.

CoinDesk Live Recap: Ethereum Culture, Explained

Maker Foundation board member Tonya Evans and former ConsenSys CMO Amanda Cassatt joined Leigh Cuen on Monday to discuss Ethereum’s ethos.

Tetras Capital Shuts Down Crypto Hedge Fund After 75% Loss

Tetras Capital, once a $33 million crypto hedge fund, is shutting down due to negative returns.

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Blasts Past $10,000; Ethereum Fees Up 550% in 2020

Bitcoin is experiencing high volumes, pushing the price close to $11,000. Meanwhile, Ethereum fees are up 550% this year.

SPACs 101: A Bubble, the Future or Both?

A primer on, and critical look at, one of Wall Street’s hottest trends: special purpose acquisition companies.

How Millennials Are Shaping the Future of Money

The desire for autonomy, self-sufficiency and personalization is driving innovation in personal finance, including the shift to crypto.

Bitmain Spin-Off Launches Crypto Exchange to Go After Booming Options Market

Matrixport has set up its own derivatives exchange and now wants to take on Deribit, the market leader for crypto options.

Blockchain Bites: Ethereum’s Lifestyle Brand, Twitch’s Crypto Discounts and MakerDAO’s $1B Milestone

A Ripple executive built an XRP payments platform, a Washington. D.C.. court ruled bitcoin is money and Ethereum miners' profits are soaring.

Why Debt Financing May Be a Double-Edged Sword for Bitcoin Miner Bitfarms

BitFarms used high-interest-rate debt with large balloon payments to expand operations. Now it may struggle to pay off its debt, according to CoinDesk Research.

Crypto News Roundup for July 27, 2020

With BTC breaking out, ETH exploding and gold at all-time highs, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back with another crypto news roundup.

Private Sector Could Bring Value to Future CBDC Launches, Says IMF Official

A director at the IMF has spoken of the value the private sector could bring to central bank digital currencies, should they be adopted by nations.

Leading Austrian Telecom Provider Adds Cryptocurrencies to Its Cashless Payment Network

A1 Telekom Austria announced cryptocurrencies will now be available to use in its cashless payment app, allowing over 2,500 merchants to accept bitcoin, ether and dash.

Silvergate’s Bitcoin-Backed Lending Product Grew 80% in the Last Quarter

Silvergate Bank continued to add a steady drip of crypto customers in Q2 but its issuance of bitcoin-collateralized loans is what stood out.

US Government Files Fresh Charges Against PlexCoin ICO Organizers

Having only settled with the SEC last year, the PlexCoin founders now face a fresh round of charges from the Department of Justice.

Odds of Bitcoin Hitting Record High in 2020 Are (Slightly) Up, Options Data Suggests

The likelihood of bitcoin challenging 2017's record high by the end of this year may have just nudged up – but don't raise your hopes too high just yet.

You Can Now Buy Hedera Hashgraph’s HBAR Token via Simplex

Users can buy and sell the cryptocurrency with a debit or credit card through global payment processor Simplex’s fiat gateway solution

Bitstamp Backs BCB’s SWIFT Alternative for Instant Cash-Crypto Settlements

BCB Group is launching an instant settlement network for cash and crypto.

First Mover: Bitcoin at Last Passes $10K, But Why Has It Struggled While Gold Shone?

It's a tricky thing to explain why bitcoin has been underperforming as central-bank money printing helps drive gold to a new record. 

FTX to Launch ‘Scalable’ Decentralized Exchange in Weeks

Building on the Solana blockchain means the new platform's operations are less restricted than those on Ethereum, the firm says.

MakerDAO Passes $1 Billion Milestone in DeFi First

The total value of ether locked in DeFi's oldest project has surpassed $1 billion for the first time.

Ripple’s Director of Product Unveils P2P Payments Platform Using XRP

Craig DeWitt has unveiled the beta release of a personal peer-to-peer payments project that will work in popular web browsers.

Twitch Doubles Down on Crypto, Gives Subscribers 10% Discount

By offering a discount, video streaming platform Twitch is encouraging users to actually use cryptocurrencies for goods and services.

Ethereum Miners’ Income Soars by 60% in a Month – Outruns Ether’s Price Jump

Ethereum miners may have benefited the most from ether’s recent price rise and soaring transaction fees.

85% of Italian Banks Are Exchanging Interbank Transfer Data on Corda

Banks across Italy are using R3’s Corda blockchain to vastly speed up the process of double-checking transaction logs.

Ethereum as Lifestyle Brand: What Unicorns and Rainbows Are Really About

Ethereum is more than a technology, it’s a lifestyle. Beyond cryptocurrency, the software has attracted a diverse community of contributors.

Crypto Long & Short: Where Fintech Ends and Crypto Begins

Parts of fintech may be embracing crypto, but Noelle Acheson argues that doesn’t mean crypto is fintech – it’s more than that.

The Future for Unregulated Bitcoin Exchanges

CoinDesk's Anna Baydakova talks to non-custodial p2p exchanges Hodl Hodl and Bisq about why we still want no-KYC bitcoin.

Bitcoin Price Logs Two-Month High Above $10,000

The DeFi-led rally in Ethereum's ether token looks to have spilled over into the bitcoin market, one analyst said.

Is This China’s Century or the US’s? Maybe It’s Both

This Long Reads Sunday is a reading of Adam Tooze's recent review of four books on the growing conflict between the U.S. and China.

What Sex Workers Want to Do With Bitcoin

Sex workers are starting their own businesses and working online, thanks to social media, according to this adult content creator.

As Economic Indicators Get Worse, the US Revs Up the Next Multi-Trillion Stimulus

The Breakdown Weekly Recap covers growing U.S.-China tensions, worsening job numbers and the next casual $1-$3 trillion in stimulus.

From Enron to Wirecard: How Blockchain Tech Could Have Helped

If blockchain technology is used within a regulated financial system, Wirecard-esque scandals can be a thing of the past, writes BRD CEO Adam Traidman.

CoinDesk’s Twitter Hack Proved the Media Can’t Rely on Web 2.0

Last week's Twitter hack, which downed a key CoinDesk channel for seven days, showed how news groups are overly dependent on social media.

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Near $9,600 as Gold Hits High, Uniswap Liquidity Over $100m

Bitcoin is up for the week, gold gets a new high and DeFi keeps growing.

Could the European Recovery Plan Actually Break Europe Apart?

The EU’s Recovery Plan agreement has been widely hailed, but some argue that it is taking Europe down a dangerous path.

Bitcoin Is a Form of Money, D.C. Federal Court Rules: Bloomberg

Bitcoin is a form of "money", a Washington, D.C. federal court said on Friday.

Everything You Need to Know About Ethereum 2.0

A new 22-page report from CoinDesk Research explains the technology behind Ethereum's upcoming overhaul – and the potential market impact of Eth 2.0.

Ukraine’s Digital Ministry to Trace Suspicious Crypto Using Crystal Blockchain Software

Government officials hope the partnership will fast-track the maturation of Ukrainian crypto markets.

Bitcoin News Roundup for July 24, 2020

With BTC up 3.5% on the week and ETH up a lot more, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back with another news roundup.

Malaysian Watchdog Plans to Extend Crypto Regulations to Wallet Providers

The nation's Securities Commission is seeking feedback before finalizing new rules to be applied to digital asset wallet services.

Money Reimagined: China’s ‘Cold War’ Blockchain Strategy

China's new digital currency and Blockchain Services Network are part of a national plan to escape U.S. financial hegemony.

Blockchain Bites: Ghosn’s Crypto Payments, Russia’s Red Line and Why Banks Won’t Bite

Carlos Ghosn’s smugglers were paid in crypto, cryptographers call out Craig Wright’s latest claims and it's unknown whether banks will custody crypto following the OCC's letter.

Banks Won’t Rush to Hold Crypto – But OCC’s Regulatory Approval Makes It Harder to Ignore

Regulatory approval doesn't mean banks are about to begin providing crypto custody, but it is accelerating a conversation about financial institutions safeguarding bitcoin.

French Officials Move to Start Trial of Alleged BTC-e Operator Alexander Vinnik

The alleged BTC-e operator stands accused of extortion, aggravated money laundering and conspiracy.

Ether Leaves Bitcoin Behind With 2020 Gain of Over 100%

Ethereum's popularity with DeFi projects has likely led to a triple-digit year-to-date price rise for ether. Bitcoin lags well behind with a 34% gain.

Carlos Ghosn’s $600K Bitcoin Escape Fee Paid Via Coinbase

Carlos Ghosn's son paid approximately 63 bitcoin, now worth $608,000, to the two men who smuggled his father out of Japan last December.

First Mover: Crypto’s $35T Moment Could Come From Analog-World Stock Listings

With Coinbase rumored to be considering a share listing, some say a move toward more public ownership could accelerate mainstream crypto adoption.

Binance’s Fiat-Gateway Partner Banxa Expanding to US

Banxa plans to leverage custody and settlement infrastructure from exchange platform Zero Hash.

Crypto Bank Hopeful Bitcoin Suisse Raises $48M in First-Ever Round

Bitcoin Suisse said some of the funding will go on new product offerings if its banking license applications are successful.

Czech Central Bank Board Member Criticizes CBDCs as ‘Helicopter Money’

The Czech National Bank's Tomas Holub said in an interview that central bank digital currencies raise more questions than answers right now.

Opera’s Built-In Crypto Wallets Have 170K Monthly Active Users

The Norwegian browser maker has disclosed its crypto wallet user numbers for the first time.

YouTube Seeks to Dismiss Ripple Lawsuit Over XRP Giveaway Scams

The video sharing giant filed a motion to dismiss Ripple’s lawsuit that alleges that YouTube did not do enough to stop free XRP giveaway scams, copyright infringement.

Russia’s FSB Is Making Life Harder for Blockchain Companies

The FSB, Russia’s security agency, wants blockchain companies to certify with them. This could push foreign companies out of the market

Blockchain Bites: OCC’s Crypto Letter, Eth 2.0’s ‘Official’ Testnet and Dinwiddie’s Tokenized Airball

Visa said crypto is part of "the future of money," members of the U.S. Senate think the dollar should go digital and OCC will allow banks to custody crypto.

Binance Enters German Market via Partnership With Crypto Investment Firm

Binance has partnered with licensed German investment firm CM-Equity to offer crypto asset management and brokerage services in Germany and Europe.

Bitcoin News Roundup for July 23, 2020

With BTC finally breaking out and ETH up even more, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back with another crypto news roundup.

Cambrian Raises $4M to Run $25M Crypto Quant Fund

Cambrian has landed $4 million of operating capital from high-flying technology and finance investors to help run its $25 million data-driven crypto-trading fund.

Ether Stalls After 8% Rally as Exchange Inflows Spike

Ether is struggling to extend Wednesday's price rally amid increased inflow of ether onto cryptocurrency exchanges.

Prime Factor Capital Is Shutting Down: Lack of Capital Cited as Prime Factor

The firm became Britain's first FCA-approved crypto hedge fund last July.

Don’t Expect Banks to Jump on the OCC Crypto Custody News

The OCC's ruling means nationally chartered banks can now custody crypto. But, given relatively low level of institutional interest, don't count on services appearing soon.

Boston Fed Wants to Hire a Digital Currency Engineer

The one-year position will work on the Applied Fintech Research team's digital currency experiments.

EU Privacy Shield Ruling Is an Opportunity and Conundrum for Decentralized Tech

A judgement striking down an EU-U.S. data sharing agreement could pose compliance issues for U.S. startups. But privacy tech could offer a post-law solution.

First Mover: Ethereum a Victim of Its Own Success as Fees Soar, Vitalik Complains

Ethereum's growing popularity with stablecoins and DeFi projects means fees are soaring on the network. Does that offer an opening for the competition?

Winklesvoss-Owned Gemini Now Provides Custody for .Crypto Blockchain Domains

Gemini will offer custody on .crypto domains from Unstoppable Domains, which are based on non-fungible tokens much like cryptocurrencies.

BitGo Now Supports Custody and Staking of Tezos’ XTZ

The addition expands BitGo’s proof-of-stake offerings, first unveiled last October.

Veritaseum Accuses T-Mobile of Gross Negligence Over $8.6M SIM-Swap Hack

Veritaseum alleges T-Mobile authorized no less than five SIM swaps, one of which brought the loss of $8.6 million in crypto.

Chainlink Integration Brings Data Feeds to Binance’s DeFi Project

Binance is building out a DeFi platform with its Smart Chain protocol and has integrated Chainlink as a pricing solution.

3 Reasons Bitcoin’s Price Could Soon Rise to $10K

After a rise over $9,500 Wednesday, bitcoin looks set to climb toward the psychological price hurdle of $10,000. Here's three reasons why.

Ant Group Claims 100M Digital Assets Are Uploaded to Its Blockchain Daily

Days after announcing an expected $200 billion IPO, the Alibaba affiliate has rebranded its enterprise blockchain to AntChain.

US House Passes Two Blockchain Amendments in Annual Defense Budget Bill

The U.S. House of Representatives passed three key provisions in the bill where blockchain took center stage.

How One Firm Is Addressing the Interoperability Problem Posed by FATF’s Travel Rule

Crypto companies building solutions to the FATF "Travel Rule" may be creating a new interoperability problem. Netki is offering a fix.

Orchid VPN Goes Live With Desktop App for Mac Users

An Ethereum-based service for privately browsing the web now has a desktop app for Mac users.

Twitter Hackers Saw DMs From 36 Accounts, Including CoinDesk’s

The attackers who compromised Twitter in a massive breach last week might have accessed direct messages from up to 36 accounts, including CoinDesk's.

Senate Hearing Sees Digital Dollar as a Tool for Economic Supremacy

The digital dollar again appeared during a Senate hearing. However, it wasn't the focus of the hearing, but rather just another tool that can be used to maintain U.S. hegemony.

Visa Blog Post Hints at Future Digital Currency Projects

Visa appeared on Wednesday to redouble its efforts to “shape and support” cryptocurrency’s place in the “future of money.”

Mempool Manipulation Enabled Theft of $8M in MakerDAO Collateral on Black Thursday: Report

New research suggests March’s “Black Swan” event for Ethereum may have been a sophisticated plan to cash in on a global sell-off.

Ethereum 2.0 Developers Announce ‘Final’ Testnet Before Network Launch

Medalla, the final testnet before Ethereum begins its long-awaited, gradual transition to proof of stake (PoS), has been announced.

Open Interest in Ether Options Jumps to New Record High

Data from major exchanges shows that open interest in ether options rose to a new lifetime high of $194 million on Tuesday.

tZERO Plans to Support Trading of Aspencoin Ski Resort Digital Security

Token issuer Aspen Digital raised $18 million selling digital shares of the St. Regis resort in 2018.

Crypto Needn’t Fear GPT-3. It Should Embrace It

Rather than being scared of the GPT-3 language processor, the crypto community should harness its advancements in deep learning.

Banks in US Can Now Offer Crypto Custody Services, Regulator Says

U.S. regulators have cleared the way for national banks to provide cryptocurrency custody services on behalf of customers.

Blockchain Bites: Coinsquare Conclusion, Ethereum Fees and a GPT-3 Poet

Ethereum fees are up, as are users on the Bitcoin network. This is everything you need to know in crypto today.

Bitcoin News Roundup for July 22, 2020

With the price of BTC taking a breather following yesterdays jump, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back with another bitcoin news roundup.

How Uniswap Became King of DEXs

Uniswap, an automated market maker (AMM), has torn it up in the last year, becoming the world’s largest “DEX” by volume. Here's why it won.

Newly Discovered Botnet Infected Up to 5,000 Computers with a Monero Miner

Cisco researchers estimate the botnet may have earned its owner $5,000 worth of monero since it started operation four months ago.

Lithuanian Central Bank’s Commemorative Digital Token Goes Live Thursday

Lithuania’s central bank is set to issue 24,000 digital tokens commemorating the re-establishment of Lithuanian independence in 1918.

Cryptopia Creditor Issues Legal Notice to Liquidator Over Alleged Failures, Fees

Blockchain firm GNY has sent a legal notice to Grant Thornton New Zealand over alleged high fees and failures to properly address its claim.

Crypto Custodian Anchorage Adds Litecoin Support

The U.S.-based crypto custody provider has added support for litecoin, the eighth-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization.

BitMEX Owner Awards $50K Grant to Bitcoin Smart Contract Developer

100x said the $50,000 grant to Jeremy Rubin would help fund further development of the Bitcoin smart contract language, Sapio.

First Mover: This DeFi-Ready Token Is Teaching Crypto Traders to Cherish Inflation

Prices have jumped for Ampleforth's AMPL tokens, but so has the supply – and it's all gone straight into traders' pockets.

Bitcoin ‘Active Entities’ at Highest Since 2017 Bull Run

The on-chain metric suggests Bitcoin is garnering users despite the cryptocurrency’s extended period of comatose price action.

Korean Government Proposes Tough New 22% Tax on Crypto Trading

Crypto trading profits could be liable to a 22% tax should the Korean National Assembly approve the newly tabled proposal.

Google, Twitter and Facebook Face $600M Lawsuit Over Crypto Ad Bans

The corporate giants could soon face the wrath of cryptocurrency business owners in a lawsuit over the banning of crypto advertising in 2018.

Coinsquare Exchange Execs to Resign Over Wash Trading Scandal

In a settlement with the Ontario Securities Commission, three seniors executives at the Canadian exchange agreed to step down and pay penalties over fake trades.

DeFi Hype Has Sent Ethereum Fees Soaring to 2-Year High: Coin Metrics

The knock-on effects of the DeFi hype include high fees and less active users on Ethereum, according to Coin Metrics.

China’s Supreme Court Calls for Better Protection of Digital Currency Rights

A new guideline comes amid rising numbers of legal disputes in China over the ownership of digital currencies like bitcoin.

Latvian Police Seize Crypto Worth $126K in Bust of Suspected Cybercrime Ring

The “large-scale" money laundering operation ran from 2015 through 2020, police officials allege.

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Briefly Pops Above $9,400 as Global Stocks Rally

Bitcoin broke through $9,400 as stock indices around the world make gains.

ERX Gets License to Launch Exchange in Thailand

Thailand’s securities watchdog has granted a digital assets exchange license to Elevated Returns’ ERX trading platform.

What’s Behind the Fed’s New Push to Promote Inflation?

Why the Fed’s strategy on inflation is changing and why the definition used by America’s central bank may be hurting regular people.

Russia to Treat Crypto as a Taxable Property

Russia changed its draft bill regulating crypto and digital assets. You won’t go to jail for facilitating crypto deals in the country – at least, not just yet.

July’s Decentralized Exchange Volumes Have Already Topped June’s Record, Reaching $1.6B

DEX trading volume already beat June's record, passing $1.6 billion as of Tuesday.

Blockchain Bites: China’s BSN Integrations and Satoshi’s Newfound Wealth

Ethereum Classic supporters are ditching the project, top exchanges are developing "Travel Rule" solutions and, FYI, YFI might have a backdoor.

Blockchain Fintech Firm BitBond Joins German Bank Association Bankenverband

The Berlin-based fintech firm announced on Tuesday that it had joined the association for private banks in Germany.

Bitcoin News Roundup for July 21, 2020

With the price of BTC catching a bid in early trading, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back with another bitcoin news roundup.

Ethereum Turns Five Next Week and We’re Producing a Special Series

Meet "Ethereum at Five" – a cross-platform series featuring special coverage, a limited-run newsletter and live-streamed discussions on Twitter.

Robinhood, Under Cloud After User’s Suicide, Scraps UK Launch

Stocks, ETFs and crypto investment platform Robinhood told prospective UK customers the launch in the country has been indefinitely postponed.

Bitcoin Futures Pass $1B in Open Interest on BitMEX for First Time Since March Crash

Bitcoin futures open interest across all exchanges passed $4 billion Tuesday morning.

Singapore May Extend Crypto Regulation to Include Overseas Activities

Under the central bank's proposals, Singapore regulation would end up covering the overseas activities of locally based crypto companies.

SEC Commissioner Pierce Blasts Regulator’s Action Against Telegram

'Crypto mom' took no prisoners in her fiery rebuke of the SEC's Telegram action.

China’s Blockchain Infrastructure to Extend Global Reach With Six Public Chains

China’s blockchain infrastructure BSN will expand its global reach by integrating with six major public chains including Tezos, NEO, Cosmos’ Irisnet, Nervos, Ethereum and EOS. Developers using these blockchains will be able to run nodes and build dapps in the network.

Institutional Trading House ErisX Joins Silvergate Exchange Network

ErisX, a crypto exchange for institutional investors, has joined the payments network of bitcoin-friendly Silvergate Bank.

Figure’s Mike Cagney: How to Build a Business in Blockchain

Mike Cagney, who also co-founded SoFi, is one of fintech's most accomplished entrepreneurs. He talks to ConsenSys's Lex Sokolin about keys to success for blockchain startups.

CipherTrace Says It Can Instantly Flag Shady Transactions With Predictive Risk Scores

The blockchain analytics firm claims its new system respects crypto users’ privacy while also flagging suspect transactions

First Mover: Bitcoin Shows Signs of Life But Ether (And Crew) Steal the Limelight

In the race to become the dominant cryptocurrency platform, Ethereum is gaining on Bitcoin.

Bitcoin Rises With Stocks as EU Agrees €750B in Coronavirus Stimulus

Bitcoin edged higher on Tuesday as stock markets cheered the EU's decision to approve a landmark coronavirus recovery fund.

CoolBitX and Elliptic Team Up to Offer Crypto Firms Compliance Tools

The two companies will provide a package of their respective solutions to crypto firms such as exchanges needing to stay in compliance with regulators.

BitMEX Owner Leads $3.4M Round for South African Crypto Exchange

BitMEX owner 100x said investing in VALR’s Series A would bring exposure to the fast-growing South African market.

Samsung Adds Support for Blockchain VR Platform Decentraland

Samsung now supports Decentraland’s native tokens, LAND and MANA, within its Blockchain Wallet App.

Crypto Exchange Group Eyes ‘Bulletin Board’ System for FATF Compliance: Coinbase Exec

Top cryptocurrency exchanges including Coinbase will release a white paper detailing a way to comply with the Financial Action Task Force's "Travel Rule."

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Clings to $9,200 While Ethereum Transactions Soar

Bitcoin trades flat in July, leading investors to mull other cryptocurrencies.

OpenEthereum Supported 50% of Ethereum Classic Nodes. Now It’s Leaving the Project

Two of Ethereum Classic’s largest clients are walking away from the project. That leaves only 30% of the network to support future updates.

Last Week’s Big Twitter Hack Was Years in the Making

Last week's Twitter hack was a shock to the company. It shouldn’t have been. Scams have been growing more sophisticated for years.

What Is GPT-3 and Should We Be Terrified?

The internet is alive with demos of what the latest artificial intelligence language model can do. Should we be nervous?

Argentine Telecom Hackers Demanded $7.5M in Crypto as Ransom

Argentina’s leading telecommunications company fought off a cyberattack on Saturday where hackers demanded a hefty ransom in monero to release keys that would allow infected computers back into the system.

Alibaba’s Ant Group Plans Dual IPOs at Possible $200B Valuation

The dual-listing could turn Alibaba affiliate Ant Group into one of the largest companies operating in the blockchain space.

Whale Alert Identifies 1.125 Million BTC as Satoshi’s Stash

New on-chain analysis from Whale Alert suggests Satoshi Nakamoto mined an estimated 1,125,150 in bitcoin, now worth an estimated $10.9 billion.

Accenture, HSBC, Seba Bank Among Bank of France’s Eight CBDC Finalists

The Bank of France’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) experiments are moving forward with eight candidate firms picked to begin work “in the coming days,” the central bank said in a press release Monday.

Power Struggle Inside Bitmain ‘Hard Forks’ Bitcoin Miner Production

The ongoing battle between the two co-founders at Bitmain has essentially hard forked the production at the world’s largest bitcoin miner manufacturer.

Blockchain Bites: PayPal, Mastercard Inch Closer to Crypto

Also, a longer look at crypto's reaction to GPT-3, "the biggest thing since bitcoin."

Swipe Futures Volume Equals 42% of Its Market Capitalization

SXP futures volume signal continued interest in low-capitalization cryptocurrencies as bitcoin continues to trade in a tight range.

Bitcoin News Roundup for July 20, 2020

With bitcoin's trading range getting even tighter, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back for your bitcoin news roundup.

UK Government Moving to Restrict Cryptocurrency Promotions

Under the U.K. government's proposals, unauthorized companies would need explicit approval to legally market cryptocurrency products.

Japanese Financial Giant MUFG to Launch Digital Currency in 2020

The world's fifth largest bank is set to go ahead with a digital currency launch in collaboration with Indeed.com parent firm Recruit Group.

Is Crypto Fintech? It Depends Who You Ask

Crypto is financial technology. But Is it fintech?

Standard Chartered to Launch Institutional Crypto Custody Solution

The head of Standard Chartered's venture arm said the crypto custody solution could launch into test phase sometime later this year.

First Mover: Bitcoin Miners Find Upgrade Financing Aplenty, Even as Prices Languish

Big-money players are extending financing to bitcoin miners for equipment upgrades, even though prices are still torpid two months after the halving.

Bitcoin Futures Trading Volume Slips to 3-Month Low on CME

Trading activity in bitcoin futures listed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange has cooled as the top cryptocurrency languishes in the price doldrums.

Bank of Japan Forms New Team to Explore Central Bank Digital Currency

The Bank of Japan is warming to digital currencies and now has a team dedicated to researching a possible digital yen.

Mastercard Now Allows Crypto Firm Wirex to Issue Payment Cards

Mastercard said Wire is the first crypto company to become a principal member, meaning it can directly issue payment cards to its customers.

Canada Crypto Exchange Coinsquare Accused of Wash Trading by Watchdog

The Ontario Securities Commission alleges Coinsquare manipulated markets with fake trading volumes between 2018 and 2019.

Wanted Wirecard Exec Said to Be Sheltered by Secret Service in Russia

Jan Marsalek, a former board member of Wirecard who is wanted over allegations of fraud, is reportedly being sheltered in Moscow by the biggest Russian secret service.

PayPal Picks Paxos to Supply Crypto for New Service, Sources Say

PayPal has chosen Paxos to handle the new service’s supply of digital assets, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Crypto Long & Short: Why the Twitter Hack Was Good for Bitcoin (and It’s Not the Media Attention)

Yes, the Twitter hack was basically a giant bitcoin scam. But the fallout is showing the world the strengths of cryptocurrency and decentralization.

Are Stablecoins Eurodollars 2.0? Long Reads Sunday

Long Reads Sunday features two essays previously published on CoinDesk that show the trajectory of stablecoins in the global economy in 2020.

The Origins of the World’s Oldest Bitcoin Metric, Explained

Bitcoin days destroyed (BDD) was first introduced as a concept back in 2011. At the time, it had only been two years since the creation of the world’s first cryptocurrency, bitcoin. Individuals were already beginning to innovate ways to measure on-chain transaction activity and value.

Social Media Is Democracy’s Faultline: The Breakdown Weekly Recap

From PayPal crypto confirmed to action in central bank digital currencies, these were six themes shaping the week.

Novel Charts Dark Side of ICO Mania

Haydn Wilks' latest novel examines the cryptomania of the 2017 ICO boom.

Third Centra Tech Founder Pleads Guilty to ICO Fraud

Centra Tech one of the most storied scams of the the 2017 ICO bubble. Its founders have fallen like dominoes since.

Market Wrap: Derivatives, Altcoins Take Market Spotlight as Bitcoin Dozes at $9,100

Derivatives and altcoins are providing excitement as bitcoin spot trading stays dull.

Colorado Is Betting on ETHDenver and Web 3 for Its Next Lottery Games

Eyeing a billion-dollar revenue goal by 2023, the state-run lottery is getting creative with its game offerings.

What If the Too-Strong Dollar Is a Solved Problem? Feat. Jon Turek

Finance writer Jon Turek argues that between Federal Reserve swap lines, Europe stabilization and a few other factors, the strong dollar problem may be (temporarily) solved.

Twitter Hacker Is Mixing Bitcoin Loot Using a Wasabi Wallet, Elliptic Says

According to the crypto analytics firm, 2.89 bitcoin associated with Wednesday’s security breach was moved to a Wasabi wallet late last night.

Money Reimagined: This Isn’t Good for Bitcoin

This week's Twitter hack won't make it easier for the crypto industry to win friends in Washington D.C., with possible implications for DeFi and more. How we talk about events like this matters.

Malaysia Crackdown Unlikely to Affect Binance, eToro

Malaysia’s financial watchdog has said Binance and eToro don’t comply with the country’s securities law; it’s unlikely to make much of a difference to their local operations, however.

The DOJ Wants to Hire a Crypto Crime Attorney Adviser

The Department of Justice wants to hire an attorney adviser to specialize in cryptocurrency, dark web and hacking criminal cases.

Blockchain Bites: Binance’s Bitcoin Mining, ConsenSys’ Legal Trouble and Why Politicians Blame Twitter, Not Bitcoin

Binance will consolidate its bitcoin mining, ConsenSys is accused of intellectual property theft and Wonder Woman's illustrator will sell art on Ethereum.

US Agency Says Chinese Drug Traffickers Used Bitcoin to Launder Proceeds

The U.S. Office of Foreign Asset Control has sanctioned four Chinese residents, claiming they helped launder drug proceeds using bitcoin.

IRS Seeks Elliptic’s Crypto Tracing Software in Response to COVID-19

President Donald J. Trump invoked the Stafford act in March, authorizing federal agency funding.

Twitter Doesn’t Need Web 3.0 to Solve Its Identity Problem

The great Twitter hack does not herald the end of the centralized web. But we need stronger cryptography for social media.

Bitcoin News Roundup for July 17, 2020

With Binance expanding its miner ambitions and Thailand's CBDC seeing early use, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back with another bitcoin news roundup.

Aave’s LEND Token Is Now Up 1,600% in 2020

The native token of the decentralized lender Aave has risen by over 100% this month alone.

‘Wonder Woman’ Illustrator Jose Delbo to Release Comic Book on the Blockchain

Noted DC Comics illustrator Jose Delbo is releasing limited-edition artworks on a blockchain-powered platform this month.

First Mover: Why Bitcoin Traders Couldn’t Give a Sat About the Twitter Hack

Bitcoin barely moved on this week’s Twitter hack. Here's what analysts said about why the attack had such little effect on prices.

Thailand Already Using Central Bank’s Digital Currency

Thailand's digital currency is backed by the central bank’s foreign currency reserves, which have grown by $25 billion over the past 12 months.

Crypto Wallet Provider Sylo Targets Growing India Market Through Exchange Partnership

Digital wallet provider Sylo has teamed up with India-based exchange Bitbns aiming to serve the nation's revitalized cryptocurrency market.

Twitter Says Hacker Group Targeted 130 Accounts

The group behind Wednesday’s Twitter hack targeted up to 130 accounts and managed to gain full control of a smaller subset.

BlockFi Hires Former Deutsche Bank, Barclays Alum as General Counsel

The crypto lending platform has hired banking veteran Jonathan Mayers as general counsel in a bid to stay ahead of the regulatory curve.

Binance Pool Poised to Grab More Bitcoin Hash Rate in Russia and Central Asia

Binance is looking to consolidate more bitcoin mining hashrate to its pool in Russia and the Central Asia region.

Twitter Hack 2020 Was Probably Done by a Bitcoiner – But Not a Savvy One

A massive cyberattack against Twitter raised many questions about who people trust and what it means for the future of bitcoin.

No, the Twitter Hack Wasn’t About Bitcoin

The motivations and implications of a hack that had everyone from Coinbase to Kanye shilling a scam for bitcoin.

Alchemy Launches Product to Help Developers Monitor Blockchain Apps

Blockchain infrastructure firm Alchemy announced the launch of its new product, Alchemy Monitor, on Thursday. In an email to CoinDesk, the firm said the tool would help blockchain developers easily access information associated with user behavior and app performance. Read more: Alchemy Notify Wants to Simplify Blockchain UX With a Single Push

Bitcoin Miner Supply Sent to Exchanges Fell to 12-Month Lows in Q2 2020

Bitcoin miners, following the law of supply and demand, curtailed their supply to exchanges to the lowest level in 12 months during the second quarter.

Twitter Hacker Is a BitMEX Trader, On-Chain Data Suggests

Whoever is responsible for yesterday's Twitter hack was deep into the cryptocurrency space, with the BitMEX receipts to prove it.

Amazon Prime Membership Should Have Been a Tokenized Asset

Tokenization can distribute investment gains more fairly, says our columnist. Just think if Amazon had been a tokenized by its users rather than run for shareholders.

Blockchain Bites: Twitter Hack Fallout, A New Way to ‘Yield Farm’ and a Hurricane-Proof CBDC

What the Twitter hack means for Bitcoin, why stablecoins are on the rise in Hong Kong and a new way to farm yield using NFTs on Ethereum.

Bitcoin News Roundup for July 16, 2020

With much of the social-media world reeling from yesterdays massive, unprecedented breach at Twitter HQ, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back with another bitcoin news roundup.

ConsenSys Accused of Stealing Payment Startup’s Code for Rival Service

BlockCrushr claims investor ConsenSys abused its position of trust to gain access to its source code and create an alternative offering.

Blockchain Enabled Fantasy Soccer Firm Sorare Raises $4M in Seed Fund Round

Using the ethereum blockchain Sorare generates unique digital cards representing soccer players, that can be traded by users and used in weekly league competitions.

After the Twitter Hack, We Need a User-Owned Internet More Than Ever

Decentralized social media systems are still immature, but "as of yesterday, we can no longer claim they are a solution searching for a problem."

First Mover: ‘Boring’ Bitcoin Shrugs Off Twitter Hack as Stablecoins Co-Opt Satoshi’s Dream

Prices for bitcoin barely budged, even as a scam involving the cryptocurrency appeared to be the motivation for a massive Twitter hack.

Bitcoin Option Traders Now Betting on Short-Term Price Drop

With bitcoin looking heavy this week, short-term sentiment in the options market has flipped bearish.

Microsoft Partners with Waves to Tokenize Industrial Assets

The five year agreement will see Microsoft and Waves collaborate on a possible asset tokenization platform for company equipment.

Zcash Latest Hard Fork ‘Heartwood’ Makes Mining Private

Privacy coin Zcash has successfully hard forked at block height 903,00 in a planned network update known as “Heartwood.”

$1.4B in ‘High-Risk’ Crypto Flowed Onto Exchanges in H1 2020, Analysis Firm Says

China-based blockchain analysis firm PeckShield tracked 100 million crypto addresses for its research.

OKCoin Joins Coinbase in Supplying Oracle Feed for DeFi Project Compound

OKCoin says its regulated status and liquidity mean users will be able to trust that its data feed will be accurate and reliable.

Man Charged with Defrauding $4.5M in Crypto to Fund Gambling Habit

The New York man asked investors for loans for what he called a low-risk investment, but the DOJ said most of the money was sent to offshore gambling sites.

Binance CEO Criticizes Twitter Security After Coordinated Attack on Prominent Accounts

Talking to CoinDesk at the World Blockchain Summit Asia on Thursday, Chanpeng "CZ" Zhao called Twitter's security "weak" after a wave of account breaches Wednesday.

Twitter Hack Used Bitcoin to Cash In: Here’s Why

You can send bitcoin from your phone or computer to anyone else, just about anywhere in the world. And once you’ve sent it, you can’t get it back.

Twitter Says ‘Coordinated Social Engineering’ Attack Caused Bitcoin Scam

Twitter says "a coordinated social engineering attack" against an employee caused Wednesday's massive takeover.

Chainalysis Says Bitcoin Scammed From Twitter Users Is ‘On the Move’

The defrauded bitcoin amassed during Wednesday’s monumental Twitter hack is already “on the move,” according to cryptocurrency tracing firm Chainalysis.

Twitter Breach Reactions: Security Professionals Offer an Early Assessment

OpSec pros had a wide array of opinions on Wednesday's Twitter breach, but they all agreed the fault did not lie with each hacked account's owner.

Yield Farming Expands From Finance to Digital Collectibles

Fresh soil can now be tilled for yield on Ethereum: the world of digital collectibles. NFT site Rarible is issuing a governance token.

BitMEX Derivatives Exchange Operator Rebrands to ‘100x’

BitMEX's parent company, HDR, has undergone a perhaps controversial rebranding to 100x.

Darknet Markets Are Mixing Bitcoins at Blistering Pace: Report

Darknet markets mixed $67 million in bitcoin in Q1 2020, a staggering jump from 2019's Q1 total of $3 million.

Filecoin Pushes Back Final Testing Phase, Announces ‘Calibration Period’ for Miners

Filecoin has delayed the launch of its incentivized testnet by two weeks, providing a window for miners to test their set-ups.

New Metric Suggests Imminent Volatility for Bitcoin

The ratio of low exchange volume to high on-chain transaction volume frequently corresponds with increased volatility.

Hong Kong Citizens Turn to Stablecoins to Resist National Security Law

Hong Kong's national security law enables the government to seize and confiscate assets if one commits a "political crime." Some local citizens are turning to stablecoins for protection, while exploring other decentralized technology to resist censorship.

Coffee Giant Behind Folgers, Café Bustelo Taps IBM for Track-and-Trace Blockchain

IBM is giving its blockchain track-and-trace capabilities the social-impact treatment with a provenance application focused on coffee.

Bitcoin Has American Mindshare but Few Users

The results from the Federal Reserve's annual Survey of Consumer Choice are in: Most people know of bitcoin, few are using it.

Grayscale Says Institutions Invested Record $900M in Crypto Products in Q2

Two consecutive record quarters for Grayscale mean cumulative capital inflows have doubled in the past six months to $2.6 billion.

Quantstamp Audit Greenlights Ethereum 2.0 Client Prysm for Launch

Ethereum 2.0 client Prysm is “basically ready” to launch, according to the audit firm's CEO Richard Ma in a phone call with CoinDesk.

With Bitcoin Stuck in the Doldrums, Altcoins Continue to Rally

Altcoins like Chainlink's LINK token continue to outshine bitcoin, which is still consolidating above $9,000.

Japan Is Seriously Considering a Digital Yen: Report

As rivals and allies move forward with their own CBDC plans, Japan will seriously consider a digital yen as part of this year's policy agenda.

First Mover: UK Economy Setback Renews Questions of Bitcoin’s Resilience

The U.K. is recovering from the economic effects of the coronavirus more slowly than expected. Would a fresh market drop pull down bitcoin too?

Disgraced Lobbyist Jack Abramoff Pleads Guilty to Fraud in Crypto Case

Previously convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff has pleaded guilty to knowingly promoting an alleged crypto fraud with false and misleading information.

Morgan Creek Leads $2.8M Seed Round for Crypto Insurance Upstart Evertas

Formerly called BlockRe, the crypto insurance provider raised the seed round from Morgan Creek,Plug n Play, Kailash Ventures and other investors.

UK Fintech Firm Revolut Brings Bitcoin, Ether Trading to US Customers

Revolut customers in the U.S. can now buy, hold and sell BTC and ETH on the digital bank’s crypto platform, thanks to a partnership with Paxos.

Promoters of Crypto Ponzi Scheme OneCoin Murdered in Mexico

Two promoters of the crypto Ponzi scheme OneCoin were found dead in Mexico last month.

China to Test Digital Yuan on Tencent-Backed Food Delivery Platform

Now three Tencent-backed companies are setting themselves up to become early-stage testers for China’s digital yuan initiative.

Russian Activists Use Bitcoin, and the Kremlin Doesn’t Like It

Activists and dissidents in Russia use crypto for fundraising – yet widespread adoption is still far away.

Jack Dorsey’s Cash App Sponsors NASCAR Driver Bubba Wallace

The NASCAR driver has a new sponsorship deal with Jack Dorsey's Cash App that will see him sport the bitcoin logo at race events.

FBI Report on Laundering by Private Funds Cites OneCoin Fraud in All but Name

OneCoin, an infamous crypto fraud, makes an uncredited cameo in a leaked FBI intelligence bulletin on the money laundering risks of investment funds.

NYDFS Chief Calls Industry Reaction to BitLicense Changes ‘Beyond Positive

NYDFS Superintendent Linda Lacewell said she decided to review the regulator's landmark virtual currency license in light of its impending 5-year anniversary.

Standard Chartered Participates in Jammed $18M Round for Crypto Custodian

Standard Chartered said it invested in Metaco to improve the relatively undeveloped market infrastructure in digital assets.

What It’s Really Like to Live on Bitcoin in the Middle East

The story of a Syrian migrant in Iraq shows how bitcoin can work as intended – as a global currency that transcends borders.

Texas Man’s Alleged Use of PPP Funds for Crypto Instead of BBQ Has Feds Asking ‘Where’s the Beef?’

Investigators could not find any online reviews, any documented employees or any established bank account for the defendant's purported BBQ company.

Blockchain Bites: Chainlink’s Interest, Ethereum’s ‘ReGenesis’ and Crypto Taxes

Retail interest in Chainlink is booming, Ethereum may follow Cosmos on its path to upgrade and the U.K. central bank is mulling a CBDC.

Kraken Adds 3 DeFi Tokens – COMP, KAVA, KNC

Riding the surge of interest in yield farming, cryptocurrency exchange Kraken is listing three tokens from the world of decentralized finance.

Bitcoin News Roundup for July 14, 2020

With Tax Day fast approaching, CoinDesk's Markets Daily covers all things IRS and crypto taxes on today's show!

VMware Joins Samsung, Salesforce as Investor in Digital Asset’s Series C Funding Round

Enterprise blockchain maker Digital Asset says VMware has joined its Series C funding round, though it didn't say how much has been raised.

PayPal Told EU It Had Crypto Plans Back in March

PayPal had previously declined to say whether it had any designs in the crypto space; the letter from early March appears to confirm it.

Gemini Boosts User Security With Hardware Security Key Support for Android and iOS

The Winklevoss brothers' Gemini exchange now supports hardware security keys for both Android and Apple iOS mobile devices.

Fidelity Digital Assets to Custody Bitcoin in Kingdom Trust Retirement Accounts

Kingdom Trust CEO Ryan Radloff hopes the partnership with Fidelity will nudge the investment giant closer to serving retail crypto investors.

Shyft Debuts ‘Decentralized Version of SWIFT’ for FATF Travel Rule

Shyft Network says 30+ exchanges are testing its blockchain-based solution to help cryptocurrency companies comply with the FATF Travel Rule.

Five Years On, Ethereum Really Is the ‘Minecraft of Crypto-Finance’

The Ethereum community has delivered on many of its promises, says the author of a new book charting the blockchain's early history.

Bitcoin Volatility Metrics Are Like November 2018 All Over Again

Bitcoin is locked in a low-volatility squeeze similar to one seen ahead of a 40% price crash in November 2018. This time may be different.

Gate.io, Huobi Enter Booming Crypto Options Scene

The two exchanges are moving into the crypto options scene, which continues to grow as volumes on spot and futures markets spiral.

First Mover: Bitcoiners Not Worried Fed Money Printer Has Stopped Going ‘Brrrr’

The Federal Reserve's balance sheet is shrinking, but bitcoin investors are betting it's only a matter of time before the economic toll of the coronavirus leads to more money printing.

BitGo Looks to Rally Exchange Clients Around FATF Travel Rule Product

BitGo has joined the pack of solution providers attempting to bring crypto in line with FATF anti-money laundering standards.

Binance Rolling Out Crypto Card for EU, UK Markets

Users in Europe will be able to apply for the Binance Card from August, those in U.K. will be able to do so shortly afterwards.

Canadian Government Paid Justin Trudeau Family Member to Talk at Blockchain Event

Canadian politicians are seeking answers after the half-brother of the prime minister was paid by the federal government to speak at a blockchain conference.

Bank of England Considering a Central Bank Digital Currency, Governor Says

The U.K.'s central bank is discussing the possibility of launching a digital currency, perhaps in several years.

2020: The Year Ethereum Stayed Home

This is a weird year for everything and everyone but it's particularly weird for Ethereum – which is known for a globetrotting slate of annual events.

IRS Violated ‘Taxpayer Bill of Rights’ With 2019 Crypto Letters: Watchdog

Nearly a year after the IRS sent intimidating letters to crypto holders, the agency’s watchdog says the campaign violated its Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

Crypto Taxes: Still Confused After All These Years

Many tax professionals claim the recent guidance didn’t provide much clarity and created more confusion than it dispelled.

Hodlers Can Donate Crypto to Charity to Minimize Tax Payments

Donating crypto means it won’t be taxed, say The Giving Block and TAXbit, which published a guide to facilitate such donations.

Even the IRS Admits Some Crypto Tax Regulations Are ‘Not Ideal’

Have questions about filing your crypto taxes? CoinDesk dives into what we know (and what we don’t) about how the IRS is approaching the asset class.

Market Wrap: Stocks Make Gains While Bitcoin Sticks to $9,200

A bullish stock market left bitcoin behind Monday with the world’s oldest cryptocurrency trading flat.

Researcher Hopes Cosmos-Style ‘Checkpoint’ Could Fix Ethereum’s Data Problem

The “ReGenesis” proposal by Ethereum researcher Alexey Akhunov would “nuke” the state for certain nodes. It might just fix the network’s growing data issue.

Low-Cap Index Hits All-Time High as Small Cryptocurrencies Rally

A novel index of 50 low-capitalization cryptocurrencies made new all-time highs as it continues to outperform bitcoin.

The Real Story Behind Tesla’s Crazy Rally

As Elon Musk settles into being richer than Warren Buffett, NLW looks at what is driving the Tesla stock rally.

Google Searches for Chainlink Hits High as Link Token Rallies

Have you googled Chainlink lately? You're far from the only one, according to new data.

Blockchain Bites: It’s Never Been Harder to Mine Bitcoin

Bitcoin's mining difficulty is at a record high, Singapore's CBDC may find commercial use and Chinese companies are going in on Filecoin.

Polkadot’s Inaugural Vote Could Expand DOT Supply by 1000x

The first vote on Polkadot will be to see whether the DOT supply should be redenominated by a "logical" 100x or even by 1000x.

Bitcoin News Roundup for July 13, 2020

With BTC mining difficulty reaching a new record high, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back with your bitcoin news roundup!

World Bank Investigates Smart Contracts as Financial Tools, With Mixed Results

The World Bank has looked at the benefits of smart contracts and found the blockchain instruments to be a "limited" financial tool.

SEC, CFTC Hit Crypto App Abra With $300K in Penalties Over Illegal Swaps

The financial regulators both found fault with Abra offering security-based swaps without first checking to see whether investors were eligble.

Version Control Can Help the Media Win Back Reader Trust

By committing content to a blockchain, news outlets can reassure readers that what they are reading is what the outlet originally published, says our columnist.

Fidelity International Doubles Stake in Bitcoin Mining Firm Hut 8

Billion-dollar fund manager Fidelity International is betting big on rebounding fortunes for the listed bitcoin miner Hut 8.

Compound Tops $1B in Crypto Loans as DeFi Farmers Keep Digging for Yield

Yield farming continues to push Compound to new heights. On Monday, the lending protocol topped $1 billion in loans issued.

Drop in Bitcoin ‘Whale’ Addresses Suggests Market May Be Decentralizing

The number of bitcoin addresses holding at least 10,000 coins has dropped to 14-month lows alongside an uptick in lower-value addresses.

First Mover: Twelve-Fold Gains for Aave’s LEND Token Might Be More Than DeFi Hype

Collateral deposits in Aave are up nearly $160 million over the past six months, suggesting actual usage rather than speculation.

Bitcoin Mining Difficulty Sets New Record High 2 Months After Halving

Two months after the network's halving event, it's harder than ever to mine bitcoin.

Singapore’s Central Bank Eyes Commercial Role for Its Blockchain Payments Tech

Project Ubin has completed its last development phase and is now being considered as the basis for commercial digital currency ventures.

CoinSwap and the Ongoing Effort to Make Bitcoin Privacy ‘Invisible’

Developer Chris Belcher has set his sights on making CoinSwap a reality – a new project he hopes will "massively improve bitcoin privacy."

Inside the Craze for Filecoin Crypto Mining in China

As Filecoin inches closer to a blockchain mainnet launch, investors in China are again speculating heavily on the network’s mining hardware and token prices.

Crypto Long & Short: Dogecoin, Market Manipulation and the Downside of a Coinbase IPO

Noelle Acheson explains how the dogecoin rise exemplifies the creative destruction underway in markets, and what a potential Coinbase listing could mean for the development of crypto.

Does COVID-19 Have the World Rethinking Dollar Supremacy?

A reading of a piece by a Yale professor and former head of Morgan Stanley Asia arguing the dollar’s status is changing rapidly.

Listen: What a Bitcoin Researcher Says About Lightning

Chaincode Labs researcher Clara Shikhelman has been studying mathematics in university since she was 14 years old. Now, as the bitcoin company’s newest post-doctoral fellow, she is exploring ways to optimize the Lightning Network.

Hyper-Stablecoinization: From Eurodollars to Crypto-Dollars

Crypto-dollarization is the world's next best hope to meet its insatiable demand for U.S. dollars.

The Mixed Signals Economy: The Breakdown Weekly Recap

Jobless claims are down, coronavirus cases are up and the markets simply don’t know what to do.

Sale of the Century: The Inside Story of Ethereum’s 2014 Premine

"Now anyone could be an investor in one of the most cutting-edge technology companies out there. All they needed was an internet connection and at least 0.01 bitcoin."

Attempted 51% Attack on Bitcoin Gold Was Thwarted, Developers Say

A 51 percent attack on Bitcoin Gold was unsuccessful.

Telegram’s Defeat Isn’t ‘Binding’ in Kik Case, Judge Tells SEC

Kik's proverbial day in court may take a lot longer than Telegram's, if the judge’s response to the SEC during a hearing this week is any indication.

Market Wrap: Traders Buy the Dip and Bitcoin Holds at $9,200

Bitcoin sticks to the $9,200 price range after some light selling early in the day.

You Can’t Fight Outrage Culture With More Outrage, Feat. Michael Krieger

For a decade, Liberty Blitzkrieg has been an essential alternative financial and cultural voice. Here’s why it’s ending.

Bitcoin App Bottlepay Is Back From the Dead With a New Lightning App

Bottlepay remodeled its whole product to comply with EU regulations. Roughly 1,000 people are now on the waitlist for the app's relaunch.

Bitcoin Reaches Record High Correlation to S&P 500

Analysts expect bitcoin’s positive correlation to traditional markets to continue and strengthen.

Money Reimagined: COVID-19’s Crash Course in Exponential Math

Money requires a network effect, helped by the self-reinforcing idea that “everyone’s using it because everyone’s using it.”

Bitcoin Wallet Electrum Now Supports Lightning, Watchtowers and Submarine Swaps

In its latest major release, Electrum now supports a number of innovations that could make using Lightning more secure and less bumpy for users.

Blockchain Bites: Coinbase’s Untraditional Investor Day and the Ethereum-EOS Arms Race in Latin America

Coinbase will host its first investor day while a protocol arms race unfolds in Latin America.

Bitcoin News Roundup for July 10, 2020

With the price of BTC headed down and the Fed's largest balance sheet decline in 11 years, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back for your bitcoin news roundup!

Cardano Creator Compares Criticism of Project to ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’

Infighting is hurting crypto, IOHK's Charles Hoskinson says, but he won't "apologize for kicking people in the teeth" on Twitter if someone is attacking Cardano or its community.

First Mover: Kyber Token’s Eightfold Increase Reveals Bet on Future Market-Share Growth

Prices for decentralized exchange Kyber's KNC token have jumped eightfold in 2020, outshining the performance of Binance's BNB coin.

Blockchain Tech Can Verify Credentials, But Beware Credentialism

Blockchain-based credentials can make getting back to work and school easier post-COVID. But we must resist the urge to put every life achievement on a blockchain.

The Federal Reserve’s Declining Balance Sheet Is Bearish for Bitcoin. Or Is It?

The Fed’s balance sheet just dropped the most in 11 years, but despite popular opinion, that is not necessarily bad news for bitcoin.

Crypto ‘Giveaway’ Scams Continue to Flourish on YouTube

Cryptocurrency scams continue to appear on YouTube, misusing content from influential people in the space and stealing from the gullible.

A Rare Glimpse Into How Crypto Is Really Used in Venezuela

After airdropping cryptocurrency to 60,000 users in Venezuela, AirTM survey results suggest how crypto is really used in the economically troubled nation.

Ethereum and EOSIO Square Up Over Enterprise Blockchain Business in Latin America

With ConsenSys in one corner and LatamLink in the other, a project backed by the Inter-American Development Bank is weighing Ethereum vs. EOS tech.

Brave Browser Partners With bitFlyer to Expand BAT’s Reach in Japan

The crypto exchange will build a BAT wallet for Brave as it helps the cryptocurrency grow in Japan.

Coinbase Plans First-Ever Investor Day Amid Talk It May Go Public

It’s unclear if the Aug. 14 virtual meeting is related to a rumored plan to take Coinbase public, but such events often presage direct listings.

Market Wrap: Stocks Tick Downward and so Does Bitcoin, to $9,200

Most markets are down Thursday, including stocks and bitcoin.

Bitfinex Must Face New York Allegations Over $850M in Lost Funds, Appeals Court Rules

Cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex will have to answer claims about hiding millions in lost funds, a New York appeals court ruled on Thursday.

BitClub Programmer Admits Mining Scheme Stole $722M in Bitcoin

The Romanian programmer pleaded guilty to wire fraud and the offer and sale of unregistered securities.

Inequality, Social Chaos, Bankruptcy Rallies: The Best Insights From FinTwit June 2020

From the "Robinhood Rally" to the most profit-disconnected stock market in history, these are the most interesting ideas from FinTwit last month.

I’m a Syrian Refugee. This Is How Bitcoin Changed My Life

Now living in the Netherlands, Tey Elrjula explains how bitcoin helped him build a new life as an entrepreneur, educator and author.

WikiLeaks Shop Now Accepts Bitcoin Lightning Payments

In 2011, WikiLeaks was among the first organizations to accept donations in bitcoin. Now its shop is taking bitcoin payments over Lightning.

Tron Arbitration Challenged in Hostile Work Environment Lawsuit

Two technology developers are trying to keep their workplace harassment lawsuit against the Tron Foundation in a court rather than arbitration.

Bitcoin Started Moving in Sync With S&P 500, Volume Dropped, Kraken Says in June Volatility Report

According to the crypto exchange’s report, June was the most uneventful month for Bitcoin (BTC) trading since February and was marked by a reversal in correlation trends with gold and the S&P 500.

Bitcoin News Roundup for July 9, 2020

With bitcoin headed back up and Brazil's real hitting new lows, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back!

Blockchain Bites: CENTRE’s Blacklist, Brazil’s Stablecoin Boom and Coinbase Is Going Public?

Coinbase is reportedly looking to go public, CENTRE has blacklisted a USDC address and U.S. sanctions could restrict crypto firms in China.

Bitcoin Miner Maker Canaan Drops 3 Directors in Possible Boardroom Coup

Sources speaking to Chinese media said a dispute at Canaan Creative has led to a power grab by now-Executive Director Nangeng Zhang.

CFTC Hints at Future Digital Asset Regulatory Framework

The commodities regulator has a four-year plan for fostering responsible innovations in the crypto asset space.

Crypto-Enabled VPN Provider Orchid Launches on Apple’s App Store

Orchid announced Thursday that its newly launched app would allow users to buy VPN bandwidth using in-app purchases powered by cryptocurrency.

Coinbase Exploring Stock Market Listing, Reuters Reports

The crypto exchange is said to be planning a direct listing rather than an initial public offering, sources speaking to Reuters said.

Binance Labs Leads $1M Seed Round in Crypto Tor Alternative HOPR

Binance Labs, the seed funding arm of the world’s largest crypto exchange, has made its first investment of 2020, backing privacy startup HOPR.

ING Joins Crypto Industry Body Working to Set Codes of Conduct

The banking group has joined crypto industry body Global Digital Finance to help develop best practices for custodial firms and wallets.

First Mover: Pie Anyone? DeFi Pushes ETF-Style Investing Toward Decentralization

PieDAO's push to decentralize itself shows the fast-growing DeFi industry's efforts to retrofit investment vehicles for digital-asset markets.

Bitcoin Option Traders Bet on Bullish Move Following Volatility Squeeze

While bitcoin's range play continues, options traders look to be betting on a big move to the higher side soon.

Ferrari, McLaren and $15M in Crypto Seized as Chinese Police Bust Arbitrage Scam

The novel Chinese scam saw perpetrators create fake crypto assets to fleece investors seeking arbitrage opportunities.

London Stock Exchange Parent Assigns Financial ‘Bar Codes’ to 169 Cryptos

The addition of bitcoin and its ilk to LSEG's database, in response to customer demand, is a sign that institutions are slowly embracing the asset class.

Children’s Heart Charity Receives $48K in Crypto Donations

The Children’s Heart Unit Fund which supports children with cardiac ailments, received the crypto donations using The Giving Block platform.

Cannabis and Lending Firm Seeks SEC Permission to Raise $50M in Crypto Sale

Ceres, started by graduates of the U.S. Military Academy, recently filed paperwork with the SEC seeking permission to sell its digital token and Ceres coin.

Circle Confirms Freezing $100K in USDC at Law Enforcement’s Request

CENTRE froze $100,000 in USDC in response to a request from law enforcement, the group said Wednesday.

Brazil’s Ailing Economy Is Helping Dollar-Pegged Stablecoins Find Traction

Brazilian crypto users are increasingly turning to USD-pegged stablecoins as the country's real sinks to record lows against the dollar.

Electroneum Mines Multi-Country Charity Donations During COVID-19

U.K.-based Electroneum is helping students in Nigeria and India with block rewards reaped from its token, ETN. The strategy also helps its business.

23-Year-Old Who Lied to Bank About Bitcoin Holdings Pleads Guilty to Fraud

Randall Joseph Smail faces up to 30 years in prison for lying to a bank about having $640,000 in bitcoin to get a loan.

Start9 Labs Pitches a Private At-Home Server. And It Works

Start9 Labs’ Embassy server sets up its own private internet network and comes with its own operating system. We tried it.

Libra Hasn’t Abandoned Multi-Currency Stablecoin: Policy Director

The Libra Association's head of policy said ongoing dialogues with central bankers had not dented their original ambition.

What DeFi Can Learn From ‘InFi’

By studying informal financial cooperation, including lending circles, blockchain developers can uncover new opportunities, says our columnist.

Blockchain Bites: DiDi to Trial the Digital Yuan and a Look at Chainlink’s Gains

The "Chinese Uber" will join the nations CBDC project, TikTok threw Dogecoin a treat and Nexo tapped Chainlink.

Marlin Releases Open-Source ‘Layer 0’ Transaction Relayer for Ethereum

Marlin has open sourced its OpenWeaver relay network to help speed up low latency mempool syncs of the Ethereum network and support decentralization.

Bitcoin News Roundup for July 8, 2020

Very crypto, much wow. With Dogecoin back in the news, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back with another bitcoin news roundup.

Only 23% of Hodlers Have a Crypto Estate Plan: Survey

The late Gerald Cotten wasn't the only investor who failed to make a plan for his crypto, according to a survey by the Cremation Institute.

Hong Kong’s National Security Law Could Threaten Local Crypto Brokerages

The U.S. sanctions on financial institutions in Hong Kong could put the city’s growing crypto brokerage businesses in jeopardy.

Introducing the CoinDesk 20

This group of 20 digital assets make up most of what people mean when they say “the cryptocurrency market.”

Tata Consultancy Launches Crypto Trading Solution for India’s Financial Firms

India's crypto renaissance continues, with Tata Consultancy unveiling a solution allowing banks and financial institutions to offer digital asset trading.

Copper Now Enables Funds to Create Complex Crypto-Backed Securities

The service allows institutional investors to securitize a range of crypto-based products, from token trackers to complex trading strategies.

New Enterprise Ethereum Director Widens Tent to Include Exchanges and DeFi

Enterprise Ethereum Alliance (EEA), the business end of the second-largest blockchain, has appointed a new executive director, Daniel C. Burnett.

Crypto Lender Nexo Enters Prime Broker Race, Enlists Chainlink for Audits

Nexo is preparing to enter the prime brokerage space with Chainlink-powered audits that will bring more transparency to its operations.

As Gold Hits 9-Year High, Bitcoin Eyes Price Breakout

Bitcoin is looking to leap key resistance alongside a strong rally in gold, but its role as an inflation hedge is still weak.

First Mover: With Trading Volumes Slumping, Are There Too Many Crypto Exchanges?

As bitcoin's volatility tumbles to a 15-month low, is there enough trading volume to go round for the world's 400-plus cryptocurrency exchanges?

Global Shipping Giant Cosco to Trial Alibaba’s Ant Blockchain

Ant Financial claims its enterprise blockchain can handle a billion transaction a day and save costs in global shipping.

Cryptocurrency Exchange Kraken Adds New Banking Option for US Users

Kraken's U.S. customers can now make wire transfers from their accounts at MDV Bank to fund purchases of cryptocurrency.

Alleged Leader of OneCoin Ponzi Has Sentencing for Money Laundering Adjourned

Konstantin Ignatov has again had his sentencing date adjourned while he continues to cooperate with U. prosecutors.

China’s Uber, DiDi, to Trial PBoC’s Central Bank Digital Currency

Didi, the Chinese equivalent of Uber, is forming a task force to design and implement trial of China's central bank digital currency on its on-demand transportation platform.

Dogecoin Volumes Spike 1,900% in 2 Days Amid Viral TikTok Videos

The Shiba Inu meme-based cryptocurrency’s price climbed 35% as TikTok users encourage each other to invest.

How Apple’s COVID Policy Limited a Public Health App in Taiwan

Bitmark's experience in Taiwan raises questions about censorship and access in the age of COVID-19.

DeFi Driving Chainlink’s Link Token to Record Highs

The ever-increasing use of Chainlink’s price oracles in decentralized finance is driving the cryptocurrency higher, according to analysts.

Market Wrap: With Low Volatility, Traders Seem to Like $9,000 Bitcoin

Bitcoin traders love hitting buy on their terminals when the price is around $9,000.

Nearly $60M in Bitcoin Moved to Ethereum in June

Nearly $60 million worth of bitcoins moved to Ethereum during June, 75% of which came through Wrapped Bitcoin.

Central Banks Cannot Print Jobs: Understanding Real Economic Recovery, Feat. Daniel Lacelle

A leading economist shares why crisis-time central bank policies are saving zombie companies while hurting small businesses and startups.

Delta Exchange Predicts $40 Price for COMP Ahead of Governance Token Deluge

One startup has done the math and thinks the true value for Compound's COMP token right now should be more like $40.

Lightspeed Venture Invests $2.8M in Crypto Market Maker Wintermute

Funding will go towards expanding its liquidity products across the crypto derivatives market.

Blockchain Bites: Crypto’s Bailout Millions, Brazil’s Binance Ban, Lightning’s Bug

Crypto firms received at least $30 million in government-backed loans, Brazil bans Binance's derivatives trading and Mercedes Benz' parent tests blockchain.

Bitcoin News Roundup for July 7, 2020

With BTC beating precious metals, Ethereum rising and a new report out on a lightning network vulnerability, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back for your Bitcoin news roundup!

FATF Plans to Strengthen Global Supervisory Framework for Crypto Exchanges

The international financial watchdog will meet in October to discuss creating a stronger global framework for the regulation of cryptocurrencies.

Binance Expands Reach With New Gateway for 15 Fiat Currencies

Binance users can keep their fiat funds with new partner Etana while buying and selling crypto assets on the exchange.

Crypto Tracer Chainalysis Raises $13M as It ‘Doubles Down’ on Government Ties

Chainalysis is also adding former Treasury Department official Sigal Mandelker on as an advisor.

Gelato Gives Developers a New ‘Money Lego’ Tool for DeFi Applications

Decentralized exchange Gnosis will be the first major platform to integrate Gelato's audited v1 transaction automator for token swaps on Ethereum's mainnet.

Weed Out the Soviet-Era Ponzi Scheme Eating Ethereum

The MMM Ponzi accounts for 10% of Ethereum's transactions and 50% of Paxos's. It's time the Ethereum community did something about it.

As Chat Privacy Under Threat in US, Firm Develops ‘100% User-Controlled’ Messaging

Unstoppable Domains is working to give users full control over their chat data with a new decentralized protocol.

First Mover: Even Bank of America Acknowledges China Winning Digital-Currency Race

BoA researchers anticipate that China's digital yuan might make a dent in the greenback’s global hegemony.

Ethereum Activity Metric Hits Highest Level for 2 Years

The number of active ether addresses just clocked a recent high, possibly thanks to its growing role in decentralized finance.

Binance Acquires Crypto Debit Card Provider Swipe for Undisclosed Sum

Binance said Tuesday that the Swipe acquisition, which is already available in 31 countries, could significantly improve crypto adoption globally.

Crypto Exchanges See Big Drop in Volumes as Bitcoin Volatility Approaches 2020 Low

Crypto exchange volumes could continue falling should volatility remain at these low levels, said CryptoCompare CEO Charles Hayter.

Germany Seeks to Expand Digital Efforts at FATF as It Takes On Watchdog’s Presidency

In a recently published paper, new FATF President Dr. Marcus Pleyer outlined the objectives for his two years as president of the global AML watchdog.

Binance Gives 27,000 COVID-19 Masks to UK National Health Service

Binance has donated 27,000 KN95 masks worth over $60,000 to the U.K. National Health Service’s Pru Trust to aid the fight against COVID-19.

Mercedes Maker Daimler Tests Blockchain for Supply-Chain Data Sharing

Ocean Protocol has completed a proof-of-concept with Daimler, showing how the Mercedes-Benz maker can begin monetizing data across its supply chains.

Block.One Co-Founder Brock Pierce Files to Run for US President

Brock Pierce has formally filed to run for President of the United States.

Binance Ordered to Halt Offering Derivatives Trading in Brazil

The order is the regulator’s first public stance on cryptocurrency derivatives trading.

Market Wrap: As Stocks Rally, Bitcoin Trades Above $9.3K for the First Time in 10 Days

Equities continue to beat bitcoin’s performance, but everything is making gains Monday.

Social Media Bans ‘Highlight the Profound Censorship on Web 2.0’

Recent moves by social media companies to outlaw certain types of content raise big questions about the future of free speech in the modern internet era.

Iran Gives Crypto Miners One Month to Register With the State

The government wants to "eliminate the confusion of cryptocurrency activists" with its call for mass mining registration.

Bitcoin’s Lightning Network Is Vulnerable to ‘Looting’: New Research Explains

Computer scientists Jona Harris and Aviv Zohar have examined the Lightning Network's "flood and loot" attack that preys on Bitcoin network congestion.

Bitcoin Up 27% in First Half of 2020, Beating Gold, Silver and Platinum

Bitcoin showed its luster during the first half of 2020 amid mediocre returns from precious metals.

China Stocks Surge and NYC Real Estate Craters: 5 Stories Shaping Markets Today

The story of the economy as told by five macroeconomic indicators including Chinese stocks, New York City real estate, coronavirus cases and more.

Cardano at One-Year High on Shelley Upgrade

The eighth-largest cryptocurrency by market value jumped to $0.1021 on Saturday to hit its highest price level since June 2019. It has rallied by a staggering 170% in the second quarter, according to CoinDesk data.

ConsenSys, Polychain, Tron, CipherTrace: Blockchain Startups Got $18M+ in US ‘PPP’ Bailout Loans

At least 45 crypto and blockchain startups, ranging from Bittrex to the Electric Coin Company, received U.S. Paycheck Protection Program loans, new filings show.

Blockchain Bites: E-Gold Claims, Arca’s New Fund and Generation Z

Arca, a Los Angeles money manager, has launched a new fund on Ethereum, E-Gold claims the government suppressed evidence in its case, and Expedia is taking bitcoin.

What Is Yield Farming? The Rocket Fuel of DeFi, Explained

If all these terms ("DeFi," "liquidity mining," "yield farming") are so much Greek to you, fear not. We're here to catch you up.

Bitcoin News Roundup for July 6, 2020

With bitcoin volatility sinking, lightning payments to your bank account and real world accountability on the blockchain, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back for your BTC news roundup!

Visa Seeks Ethereum Developer for New ‘Distributed Application’

The world's largest payment network is looking for an Ethereum developer to help work on a new blockchain-based application.

Compound’s ‘Yield Farmers’ Briefly Turned BAT into the Largest Coin in DeFi

The digital advertising token briefly became bigger than ether in the decentralized finance space, thanks to popular lending protocol Compound.

Arca Labs Launches Ethereum-Based SEC-Registered Fund

After nearly 20 months of discussions, the Los Angeles money manager finally cleared a hurdle involving what appears to be the first regulated fund represented by digital shares.

Kraken-Owned Crypto Facilities Wins UK License to Offer Derivatives Trading

The subsidiary of cryptocurrency exchange Kraken has obtained a U.K. license allowing it to operate its derivatives platform in the EU.

First Mover: As Bitcoiners Watch Dollar, Deutsche Sees Trump Win Hurting Reserve Status

Add the U.S. presidential election to the growing list of volatility drivers as the bitcoin market enters the second half of 2020.

Bitcoin Rises in Line With Stocks After Dip Below $9K

Bitcoin’s positive correlation with stocks continues Monday, with the cryptocurrency drawing bids alongside gains in global equities.

Afghanistan Approves Blockchain Project to Help Tackle Scourge of Counterfeit Meds

Fantom is launching a pilot to help combat Afghanistan's counterfeit drugs problem using its blockchain to trace products along the supply chain.

IOHK Invests Six-Figure Sum Into Crypto Asset Manager Wave Financial

Charles Hoskinson, IOHK's CEO, will become an advisor to Wave Financial as part of the deal.

Crypto Firm CEO Went Into Hiding After Claims 2,000 Investors Defrauded

The CEO of cryptocurrency investment firm VaultAge Solutions has forced into bankruptcy while on the run from angry investors.

Travala.com Lets Travelers Once Again Book Expedia Hotels in Crypto

The blockchain-based travel agency's partnership comes as booking rates surge from their COVID-19 lows.

Crypto Long & Short: Crypto Markets Are Maturing, but Gen Z Is Rewriting How Markets Work

Noelle Acheson looks at the potential influence of Generation Z on how institutional crypto asset markets will evolve.

What Artists Love About Crypto

Working with new media changes the creative process, according to this painter and video game creator.

It’s Time for a Revolution in Financial Education, Feat. Tyrone Ross

To decrease wealth inequality, one passionate financial adviser argues why financial education needs different content, from different voices, delivered through different channels.

Bad Ravencoin Code Allows Attackers to Generate Coins Without Mining

“The vulnerability does not allow the stealing of RVN or assets that you own and control, but the minting did create RVN that should not exist,” said developer Tron Black.

Here’s How to Expand Who Contributes to Bitcoin Core

A Bitcoin Core dev and her exchange partner discuss Bitcoin and privacy and how to incentivize more developers to contribute to the protocol.

Irish Charity Receives $1.1 Million Grant to Build Blockchain Platform for Aid Distribution

The grant will also allow Oxfam to scale the project across the Pacific region and explore its potential in sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean.

Former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers Expects ‘A Ton of Innovation’ Around Stablecoins

Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers praised stablecoins last week, saying he sees use cases in cross-border transactions as one example.

Search For Yield Drives Ether’s Put-Call Ratio to One-Year High

Ether's put-call open interest ratio has jumped to 12-month highs. However, this increase is not necessarily a bearish signal.

Russian Courts Can’t Agree on Whether Crypto Is Property

A Russian court convicted two men for extortion, but did not force them to return over $900,000 in crypto since they have no legal definition as property. Other courts have taken a different view.

Money Reimagined: Bitcoin and Ethereum Are a DeFi Double Act

With bitcoin increasingly riding on Ethereum's rails, we're about to see greater complementarity between the top two blockchains.

Coinbase Custody to Support Secure Cardano Staking This Year

Cardano users will be able to securely stake their ADA tokens from inside Coinbase's cold storage.

German Regulator Had Just 1 Person Checking Wirecard’s $3.1B Books: Report

Germany's finance and accounting agencies seem to have missed their chance to spot a $2.1 billion black hole in Wirecard's accounts.

Bitcoin’s Price Correlation With S&P 500 Hits Record Highs

Bitcoin's correlation with the S&P 500 is somewhat erratic, but the relationship has just got stronger. That may not be bad news.

E-Gold Claims US Officials Buried Key Report in 2008 Landmark Crypto Ruling

A court filing alleges federal government suppression of an OFR review led to crypto businesses being defined as money transmitters.

Crypto Investment App B21 Expands to India

The Gibraltar-based company said the move was prompted by rising consumer interest and trading volumes in the nation after a ban on banking services for cryptocurrency firms was lifted.

Cardano Developer IOHK Launches $20M Fund for Ecosystem Startups

The cFund will invest anywhere between $250,000 and $500,000 into startups and small businesses using Cardano or IOHK tech initiatives.

Singapore Man Fined $72K for Promoting Crypto Ponzi OneCoin

Police said the man is the first to be charged under the Multi-Level Marketing and Pyramid Selling (Prohibition) Act.

Swiss Bank InCore Enables Euro On-Ramp for Crypto Exchange Kraken

The move comes at a time when traders are seeking alternative sources of capital value during an "uncertain macroeconomic climate."

There Are More DAI on Compound Now Than There Are DAI in the World

The amount of DAI deposited on Compound skyrocketed by more than $140 million on Thursday – somehow exceeding the total amount of DAI in existence.

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Briefly Breaks Below $9K, but Markets Remain Comatose

Bitcoin briefly broke below $9,000 on Thursday, but the markets remain quiet.

DeFi Insurer Nexus Mutual Maxed Out by Yield-Farming Boom

Nexus Mutual is seeing a surge in demand. "Our product has honestly seen massive interest since yield farming kicked off," said founder Hugh Karp.

Bitcoin Miners Saw 23% Revenue Drop in June

Bitcoin mining revenue dropped 23% in June to approximately $380 million.

Why the Robinhood Revolution Is the Future of Finance, Feat. Jill Carlson

Far from a fly-by-night, uneducated mania, the new day trader class represents a much more significant force for how public markets are changing.

Bitcoin News Roundup for July 2, 2020

With traditional markets moving up and BTC sticking to its recent tight trading range, Markets Daily is back with another bitcoin news roundup.

Blockchain Bites: BlockFi’s Revenue, DEX Volume and a Wallet Bug

A federal appeals court effectively said blockchain data is not protected under the Fourth Amendment while decentralized exchange volume explodes.

The IRS Wants to Know More About Privacy-Enhancing Crypto Coins, Tools

America's tax collector is laying the groundwork for a possible assault on privacy-enhancing cryptocurrency technologies.

China Police Said to Detain Crypto OTC Traders Amid Money Laundering Crackdown

Chinese police are stepping up efforts in cracking down on illegal economic activities, which now leads to crypto over-the-counter (OTC) traders being detained to assist investigations.

Bitcoin Startup Zap Is Working With Visa

Lightning Network startup Zap, Inc. is partnering with Visa to offer the most user-friendly bitcoin services since Cash App.

Bug in Moscow’s Blockchain Polling System Can Reveal How Users Voted: Report

The vulnerability allowed users votes in the recent constitutional poll to be decrypted, Russian journalists found.

Investment Fund Arcane Crypto Plans Nasdaq Nordic Listing Through $32M Reverse Takeover

A successful reverse takeover of Vertical Ventures would allow the crypto investment firm to appeal to a broader investor base, the firm said.

How Bitcoin Is Like Ham Radio

Bitcoin is decentralized, good in an emergency, supported by passionate fans and not likely ever to see mainstream adoption, says our columnist.

After Years of Resistance, BitPay Adopts SegWit for Cheaper Bitcoin Transactions

Payments processor BitPay has added support for SegWit, three years after a competing block size proposal fractured the Bitcoin community.

First Mover: Crypto.com Says User Growth Coming From Products Not Token Speculation

Crypto.com saw the total number of users increase by 50% in the past few months, to 3 million people.

CNET Founder Launches Public Blockchain Network With Dollars Baked In

Public Mint puts dollars on the blockchain so users can use money whether or not they have bank accounts.

Sri Lanka’s Blockchain Bank KYC Platform to Enter Development ‘Shortly’: Central Bank

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka is about to decide who will develop a blockchain platform that could speed up the processing of bank users' ID information.

Crypto Lender BlockFi Says Monthly Revenue Up 100% After Bitcoin Halving User Boost

BlockFi said it's seen a surge in revenue since the bitcoin halving and the launch of its mobile app.

Why Bitcoin Bulls Are Betting on Explosive Growth in India

Demand for bitcoin is up in India, thanks in part to the economic crisis. But Indian tech startups are more focused on Ethereum.

Researchers Expose Flaw in Bitcoin Wallets That Could Be Exploited for Double-Spending

A standard way to transact Bitcoin could be vulnerable to double-spending and DoS attacks, ZenGo has found.

‘I Failed Terribly at Keeping My Identity Secret’: Scott Alexander on the Value of Pseudonymity

A New York Times decision to name Scott Alexander, the author of Slate Star Codex, raises questions about who deserves pseudonyms, journalism in 2020, and where we place value when it comes to news stories.

IOTA Foundation Enters Base Layer Race With ‘2.0’ Testnet

IOTA's new testnet addresses the technical feature that nuked the blockchain-like network for nearly two weeks earlier this year.